Tread for pneumatic tires.



G. G. HAWLEY &. E. K. BAKER. fw

' TBEAI) FOB PNEUMATIGTXIEES,

APLIUATION EILED APE. 11, 1908.

903,7 1 5. .Patented Nov. M1908i SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. G. HAWLEY &. E. K. BAKER..

TREAD FOR PNEUMATICI TIRES.

APPLICATION FILED M1141, 190s.

G. G. HAWLEY a.. E. K. BAKER.

TREAD FOB. PNEUMATIG TIRES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1908. N

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.`

G. G. HAWLEY ai. E. Ki BAKER.

TREAD FOR PNBUMATIG TIRES.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 11, 1908.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ttm/neg @NITE STATES PATENT Olhlllll.,

CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY AND E'RLE K. BAKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TEEAD FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES.

No. 903315.l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1o, 1908'.

Application sled apra 11, 1908i serial No. 426,496.

To all who/m, 'it may concern:

Be it lrnown that we, CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY and ERLE KING BAKER, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, Cook' county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Treads for Pneumatic Tires, of which the follewing is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to Which it appertains to make and use the same.-

Y @uit invention relates to improvements in pneumatic or cushion tires, and has special reference to improvements in the treads of such tires.

The object of the invention is to secure the advantages of the well known tire chains and anti-skidding devices, which are commonly applied to the peripheries of pneumatic tires, while, at the same time, avoiding the disadvantages of such devices or appliances. To'

this end, we form, construct or shape a pneumatic tire in such manner that its periphery presents a plurality of suitably spaced projections, or, in lieu thereof, rmer or less compressible portions, whereby the pressure or .O'rip of the tire upon the road is rendered variable and skidding or slipping is prevented'.

Our invention also resides in various novelties, constructions, forms and shapes hereinafter typified and described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciication and in which Figure l, is a side elevation of a tire embodying our invention; Fig. 2, is a perspective view or section of a tire of the general form shown in Fig; 1, containing groups and lines of metallic parts; Fig. 3, is an enlarged cross Sectio-11 of the tire; on the line g/-y/ of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, illustra-tes a modification of our invention wherein groups of metallic parts are employed in the tread portion of the tire; Fig.` 5, is an enlarged sectional view vention wherein the tread is composed of sections of rubber compos1t1on 1n diderent conditions of compressibility and elasticity;

cific constructions herein shown and described.

rIhe tire chains and irons that are in general use are in all cases applied to the outside ef the tire, and in effect form teeth thereon; which, though they are pressed or embedded in the rubbentread of the tire at instants of contact with the road, nevertheless increase the traction and grip of the tire upon the road. rIhese chains or irons extend across the tread at intervals thereon, the distance between them corresponding substantially to' the length of thelongitudinal line ofnormal contact between the intlated tire and the road surface. A very small number of cross chains serve to prevent the slipping or skidding of the wheel. They, however, shorten the life of the tire whereon they are used and are also strongly objected to by municipal authorities on the ground that they destroy the surface of the pavement; in fact the use of such devices is prohibited in many cities for the latter reason.

Our novel tire tread serves the same purpose as the chains `or irons above referred to and are not destructive and do not tear up the road or pavement. Our tire comprises portions that may be described as of regular construction and other portions spaced or alternated therewith and which by reason ofl amay be limited or confined tothe sides ofj the tire and thus kept within the normal cirv cular or common outline of the tire, as shown in Fig. 10, 1 y,

The tire B which is depicted in Figs. 4 to 6 is the substantial'equivalent of the other,

but it is distinguished therefrom by groupsl of metallic parts, staples, coils, rivets, or the like d, embedded at intervals in the periphery of the tire.- rl`hus in Figs. 1, 3 and 10, .we have-shown a tire having a tread which is wholly composed of rubber, whereas in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6, we disclose a tire having va compound tread, partly composed of metal l and principally composed of rubber.

A further understanding of the scope of 'our invention is secured from Figs. 7 and 8, 3o wherein neither visible projections nor metal parts are used, but instead the tread C ofthe tire is formed with or contains small bodies e `of less compressible vmaterial so embedded and incorporated therewith as to be integral.

parts' thereof, and yet vary the flexibility of the tread at intervals in its circumference, which We find essential tothe accomplishment of our purpose, in such a tire.A We preferably form these' small bodies, lumps 40 or transverse fillers e, from material which is readily incorporated with the mass of the tread rubber by vulcanization, such, for example, as ordinary friction cloth or fabric. .In forming the transverse fillers we prefer to make them of pieces of fabric e of dif.- ferent sizes, so that the edges of each body or filler e are relatively rounded or tapered, sharp lines of severance dr cleavage being thus avoided. It should be here mentioned that in actual practice these layers of fabric e" may be placed inv position upon the several layers of rubber as the latter arel applied in building upthe tread. e

Fig. 9, illustrates another modification of 'our invention wherein the tread D of the tire is wholly"c'omposed of rubber and yet has no visible proJections, the desired condition and eect being secured by making the tread of alternate long and short rubber sections f and f ofdifferent degrees of flexibility.

A tread of the kind illustrated in Figs. 1, '2, 3 and lO'in eithercircular or non-circular form, is particularly eicient in the prevene tion cfslippage and skidding; by reason of its yarying --action when rolling upon the' road. And it is also most eflicient onrmuddy -roads, for the projections extend .laterally fromwhat may be termed' the normal surface or sides of the tire and therefore present lateral cavities g, so that-the engragementl between the road4 and the tire not only varies longitudinally but laterally or transversely' as Well, with the result that the tire .rmly interlocks with the muddy surface of the road.

In Figs. 2, 1l, 5 and 6, we have illustrated metal parts d like unto those appearing in Letters Patent No.1865,288, granted to us September 3, 1907, but as inferred from the foregoing, metallic or 'hard pieces ofvarious lkinds and shapes may be thus embedded in the tread.J

In addition to the patches or groups of we preferably provide the intermediate or more flexible sections of the tire with one or more lines d of said staples, ,in order that slippage f the tire shall be wholly prevented, as illust-rated in Fig. 6. rfhe presenceof one or more rows or lines of metal-parts, eX- tending entirely around the tire in this manner, does not detract from the effectiveness -of the less compressible flexible' or elastic sections or portions, formed by the introduction of the transversely extended groups 'or lines. It will be obvious that the tire may be made with one, or more longitudinal rows of metal inserts and also that-single' transverse rows arranged at intervals will, and do, serve the full purposeof our invention,- notwithstandinor which fact, weV refer that each group shall comprise severa transverse rows of such metal parts In special cases we construct tires of the character shown in Figs. il and 10,v with `both ylateral 'or thickened portions and metallic parts as indicated by theidots upnn the tread surface in Fig. 2. l The word rubber as herein and herein- 4after employed, is intended to define and include various utta percha compositions and equivalent su stances or compositions.

Having thus described oir invention, we u claim as new and desire to secupe by'Letters 115 Patent: y

1. A pneumatic tire having a tread portion composed of alternated portions differing in elasticity, the portions of least elastic-ity being spaced about the tread at dis- A120 tances substantially corresponding to the 'length of the longitudinal line of normal contact between the tire tread and the road surface, substantially as described.

2. A pneumatic tire having a tread por- 'tion composed of alternated portions differin in flexibility, the portions of least iiexibllity being spaced about the treadv at y distances substantially corresponding to the length of the longitudinalline of normal 13o staples thickly set, best shown in Fig. 85

'contact/between. the Vtire tread andthe road' l surface,substantially as described.

3. A pneumatic tire having a. lcircumferential tread portion of rubber formed to present, at circumferential ,intervals substan tially lcoextensive with the line. ofnormal ContactI between the tire' 'and the road, portions 'oless c ompressibility. than theother portions ofthe" 'tread,.'substantially .as dedescribed.

' 5. A pneumatic tire having its treadprovided with lintegral lateral projections and containing 'lateral cavities between such pro j eetions, said projections being spaced .around 4tlievtread at distances substantially orresponding to the length of the longitudinal lline of normal contact between the tire and the road, substantially'as described.

' "6. A pneumatic tire having a ieircumferential tread portion Vof rubber and containingz. laterally extensive groups .of metallic parts; which present-their eiids 'atutlie surface of the tread, said' groups'beiiig. spaced.

around .the tread atv distances; substantially corresponding tothe length ofthe longi` tudinal line of iro'rmal contact between the tire and the road, substantially as described.

" spaced integral A pneumatic tire having a circumferential tredfportion of rubber containing a yc-ircuinierential row 'of metallicpartsfand aplurality of transversely extensive groups oit'v such parts,V said groups beingspacedgqio aroundthe tread at distances substantially' 'f corresponding Vtothe length offthe 10H tudinal lille of normal contact between t e tire tread andthe road, substantially as de scribed'.4

8. A pneumatic tire 'havinga circumfer- Aential tread portion "of rubber.l cox'itainixig-V` transversely extensive portions spacedtat intervals substantially lcorrespondingto thel longitudinal line of normal' contact between the tire tread and the road, asand'or'the purpose sp ecied'.

y 9. A'pneumatic tire'having upon its tread portion a plurality of-circl1mferentially projections and rentrant lateral eavi t ies, and also providedl with spaced groups ofmetallic parts embedded in the presence of-two subscribing witnesses.

.therein said groups and projections being spaced to correspond with the length ofthe line of nonal contact between lthe tire and the road,jsubsta ntially as described.

',In'testirnony whereof, we have-hereunto. set our.hands,.this 28th-"day of March,gl908,' 

